The stage has been set for what Canberra coach Njegosh Popovich believes will be a pulsating final round of the A-League Women season after his side shook up the league’s premiership and playoff race with a 3-0 win over Western United on Saturday.
Their season reinvigorated by news an appeal to overturn a forfeit defeat against Sydney had been upheld, two goals from Vesna Milivojevic and a strike from Chengshu Wu ensured the Canberrans departed City Vista Reserve unbeaten ins seven and inside the ALW’s top four.
Melbourne Victory can relegate them back to fifth on Sunday, but the win ensures Canberra, who marked striker Michelle Heyman becoming the all-time ALW leader in appearances with a win, has something to play for against Melbourne City in the final round of the season next week.
“They have been focused, our whole coaching staff have been working on making sure they stay focused,” Popovic said.
“We kept the girls true to themselves, they kept working hard and… now they’re reaping the rewards.
“We’re not going to get any fitter, we’re not going to get any stronger, we’re just going to try and get them focused with their mindset.
“It sets up a fantastic final round.”
Placed in control of the premiership race by that redistribution of three points from Sydney FC back to Canberra, Western could have guaranteed a premiership in their maiden ALW campaign with back-to-back wins in the season’s final two weeks.
Instead, Saturday’s loss swings the advantage back to the Sky Blues, whose win over Adelaide in a simultaneous kick-off ensures they can secure a third straight premiership with victories in remaining games against Perth and Newcastle.
Western is still guaranteed a top-two finish regardless of their result against Western Sydney next week but now haven’t won a game on the pitch or scored a goal since February.
“It’s not doom and gloom but we have to start fixing some things and make sure that we’re ready to play finals,” said coach Mark Torcaso.
“We know we haven’t scored and that we’ve leaked goals, it’s a matter of fixing those two areas.”
Western, however, are set to be boosted by the return of Matildas’ midfielder Chloe Logarzo, who re-signed with the club on Friday after terminating her contract with NWSL side Kansas City.
Torcaso is hopeful Logarzo will play against Western Sydney, as will Emma Robers, who was forced from the field with a knock.
By Joey Lynch in Melbourne
